TSSD Resources
Anyone who wants to prevent trenching and excavation hazards in the workplace can participate in the Stand Down. We encourage utility construction, residential, highway construction, plumbers, military, unions, associations, educational institutes, and safety equipment manufacturers to participate.
The 2026 TSSD will be held June 15-19, 2026. The event traditionally occurs in mid-June around the third week, along with June 2026 to be declared the seventh annual “Trench Safety Month”. TSSD formally ends around August 15th of each year, with final submission of attendee forms.
Trench Safety Toolbox Talk
This toolbox talk emphasizes the importance of proper safety protocols, including pre-job inspections, awareness of site conditions, use of personal protective equipment, and never working alone in trenches. It also outlines key safety practices to prevent accidents and respond to emergencies. Use this trench safety toolbox talk during your Trench Safety Stand Down to help reinforce life-saving procedures and keep your team safe.
Daily Trenching and Excavation Checklist
To further enhance on-site safety and ensure that every trenching and excavation job is approached with proper precautions, we strongly encourage you to download the Trenching and Excavation Daily Checklist. Make safety a habit—start each day with the checklist.
NUCA Participation Form
For participants in the 2026 TSSD, NUCA will provide a Certificate of Participation which will be e-mailed to all participating companies, and helmet stickers will be physically mailed to the address provided on the form you will complete below. Please allow at least several weeks for the NUCA safety team to process your submission.
NUCA will publish the list of names of participating organizations on the NUCA website and in their printed publications after the conclusion of the event. Please feel free to send in any photos taken during your stand down to nuca@nuca.com and ed@ucac.org. They may be published in our publications to encourage other companies to follow your company’s lead and emphasize trench safety all year long.